Blueberry plant, EB 8-46

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, which is denominated varietally as ‘EB 8-46’ is described, and which produces extra large sized fruit, and which further has a dry small picking scar, very good fruit flavor and an earlier flowering and fruit production dates when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep Springs, Western Australia.

LATIN NAME

‘Vaccinium Hybrid’

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘EB 8-46’

RELATED APPLICATION DATE

The present application claims priority to Australia Plant BreedersRights Application, Serial No. 2012/260 and which was filed on Nov. 29,2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new, novel, and distinct variety ofblueberry plant ‘Vaccinium Hybrid,’ and which has been denominatedvarietally as ‘EB 8-46’, hereinafter.

ORIGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present variety of blueberry plant resulted from an ongoingdevelopment program of plant breeding. The purpose of this program is toimprove the commercial quality of various plant varieties by creatingand releasing promising selections of plants including blueberries. Tothis end, I have made both controlled and hybrid cross-pollinations eachyear in order to produce resulting plant populations from which improvedprogenies are evaluated and selected.

The blueberry plant ‘EB 8-46’ was derived from a controlledcross-pollination employing the blueberry plant ‘BB-5’ [unpatented], andthe pollen parent was ‘SB-1’ [also unpatented] during the 2005 growingseason and which took place at Yanchep Springs, Yanchep, WesternAustralia. The seed parent ‘BB-5’ is characterized by an semi-spreadinggrowth habit, an early season of flowering, and which further producesmedium-sized fruit. The pollen parent ‘SB-1’ on the other hand, ischaracterized by a spreading growth habit, an early season of flowering,and which produces relatively large sized fruit. Seed from the seedparent, and which was derived following the aforementionedcross-pollination, produced about 500 plants. These plants were thengrown, and the first fruit was evaluated during the 2007 growing season.Further, an additional assessment of these same plants took place in2008. The new variety, ‘EB 8-46’ was then selected at that time forfurther asexual reproduction and evaluation. The present variety wasasexually reproduced by cuttings, and the plants produced from thisfirst asexual propagation were evaluated during the 2009 through 2013growing seasons. The asexually reproduced plants were true to theoriginal plant, and it was concluded at that time that ‘EB 8-46’ was anew, novel and distinct variety of blueberry plant.

In relative comparison to the closest known variety, that being the‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant [unpatented], the present variety producesearly maturing, very large fruit. The new variety of blueberry plantfurther has an intermediate growth habit, and additionally producesoblate shaped fruit. In contrast, the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plantproduces fruit which are mature for harvesting and shipment from a datewhich is considered early to approximately middle of the growing season.Moreover, the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant produces fruit which have anaverage to medium size, and also has an intermediate growth habit. Itshould be noted that the new variety is distinguishable from itsparents, and that of the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant by producing extralarge sized fruit, having a dry, small, picking scar, very good fruitflavor and early flowering and fruit production dates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are provided are color photographs ofthe new blueberry plant.

FIG. 1 depicts several mature fruit of the new variety and which issufficiently matured for harvesting and shipment. Further, FIG. 1additionally depicts a typical shoot bearing leaves and several separateleaves showing the dorsal and ventral coloration thereof, as well as thegrowth habit of the new plant.

FIG. 2 depicts a twig bearing typical leaves, and several fruit of thenew variety.

FIG. 3 depicts the growth habit of the new plant.

The colors in these photographs are as nearly true as is reasonablypossible in a color representation of this type. Due to chemicaldevelopment, processing and printing, the leaves and fruit depicted inthese photographs may or may not be accurate when compared to the actualspecimen. For this reason, future color references should be made to thedescriptions as provided hereinafter.

NOT A COMMERCIAL WARRANTY

The following detailed description has been prepared to solely complywith the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, and does not constitute acommercial warranty (either expressed or implied) that the presentvariety will, in the future, display the botanical, horticultural, orother characteristics as set forth, hereinafter. Therefore, thisdisclosure may not be relied upon to support any future legal claimsincluding, but not limited to, breach of warranty of merchantability, orfitness for any particular purpose, or non-infringement, which isdirected, in whole, or in part, to the present new variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the botanical details of this new anddistinct variety of blueberry plant, the following has been observedduring the sixth fruiting season under the ecological conditionsprevailing at the farm of the inventor, and which is located nearYanchep Springs, Western Australia.

-   Plant:    -   -   Plant vigor.—The present variety of blueberry is considered            to be average to strong with regard to plant vigor. This is            similar to the closest known variety, that being the            ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant [unpatented].        -   Plant growth habit.—Considered intermediate to strong in            relative comparison other known varieties. This is similar            to the growth habit as exhibited by the ‘Sharpeblue’            blueberry plant when grown under similar conditions.        -   Color.—One Year Old Shoots — Green. This color is not            distinctive of the new variety and is similar to the color            as expressed by the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plants when grown            under similar conditions.        -   Internode length.—One Year Old Shoots — Considered medium            for the species. This is in contrast to the same            characteristic as expressed by the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry            plant which exhibits a medium to medium-long internode            length.-   Leaf:    -   -   Leaf length.—Generally — Considered medium for the species.            This characteristic is in contrast to the growth            characteristic as expressed by the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry            plant which expresses a medium to long length.        -   Leaf ratio.—Length/Width — Considered medium for the            species. This is in contrast to the growth characteristic as            expressed by the Sharpeblue blueberry plant which is            considered medium to broad.        -   Leaf shape.—Generally — Considered ovate. This trait is            similar to the growth characteristic as expressed by the            ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant when grown under similar            conditions.        -   Leaf color.—Dorsal Surface — Green. This color is not            distinctive of the variety and is similar to the color as            expressed by the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant when grown            under similar conditions.        -   Color intensity.—Dorsal Surface — The green color intensity            as expressed in the leaves of the present variety appear            noticeably darker (medium to dark) in relative comparison to            the green color of the leaves as expressed by the growth            habit of the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant. This is a            distinguishing characteristic of the present variety.        -   Leaf margin.—Generally — The leaf margin of the present            variety is considered entire. This same growth            characteristic is expressed by the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry            plant.-   Flower:    -   -   Flowers.—Generally — Time of vegetative bud burst considered            early for the species, this is similar to the trait as            expressed by the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant.        -   Time of flowering.—One Year Old Shoots — Considered early.            This is similar to the trait as expressed by the            ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant.        -   Timing of flowering on current year's shoots.—Considered            early for the species.        -   Time of beginning of ripening on one year old            shoots.—Considered early for the species. This is in            contrast to the trait as expressed by the closest known            variety where the ripening is considered early to medium for            the species.        -   Time of beginning of ripening on current year            shoots.—Considered early. This is in contrast to the early            to medium date as expressed by the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry            plant.        -   Flower bud.—Anthocyanin coloration — Considered very weak            for the species. A similar characteristic is expressed by            the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant when grown under similar            ecological conditions.        -   Inflorescence length.—Considered medium for the species.            This characteristic is not distinctive of the variety.        -   Corolla shape.—Considered urceolate. This is similar to the            characteristic as expressed by the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry            plant.        -   Flower size.—Corolla Tubes — Considered medium for the            species. This is in contrast to the growth characteristic as            expressed by the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant when grown            under similar conditions and where the Corolla tubes are            medium to large.        -   Corolla tube coloration.—Anthocyanin — Considered weak to            very weak. This is in contrast to the growth characteristic            as expressed by the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant which            appears merely weak.        -   Corolla tube.—Ridges — Present. This growth characteristic            is also expressed by the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant when            grown under similar conditions.-   Fruit:    -   -   Fruit cluster density.—Considered medium to dense for the            species. This fruit cluster density is dissimilar to the            growth characteristic as expressed by the ‘Sharpeblue’            blueberry plant when grown under similar conditions and            where the fruit cluster density is considered dense to very            dense.        -   Unripe fruit.—Color — The green coloration as expressed by            the unripe fruit of the present variety is considered medium            in intensity. This is in contrast to the fruit color as seen            on unripe fruit of the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant when            grown under similar conditions. In that case, the unripe            fruit have a light to medium green color.        -   Fruit size.—Generally — The present variety produces very            large fruit in contrast to the medium sized fruit as            produced by the closest known variety, that being the            ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant.        -   Fruit shape.—Longitudinal Sectional View — Considered            oblate. This is similar to the shape of the fruit which are            produced by the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant.        -   Sepal position/altitude.—Considered semi-erect in contrast            to the orientation and attitude of the sepals when seen on            the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant when grown under similar            conditions.        -   Sepal type.—The present variety has an incurring shaped            sepal as compared to the straight type of sepal as expressed            in the growth habit of the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plants            when grown under similar ecological conditions.        -   Fruit diameter.—Calyx Basin — Medium for the species. This            is in contrast to the growth habit as expressed by the            ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant when grown under similar            conditions, and where the diameter of the Calyx basin is            considered small to medium.        -   Calyx basin/depth.—Considered shallow to medium in depth.            This is in contrast to the growth habit as expressed by the            ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant and when grown under similar            conditions and where this depth is considered merely medium.        -   Intensity of fruit bloom.—Considered very strong for the            variety. This is in contrast to the strong bloom intensity            of the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant when grown under similar            ecological conditions.        -   Fruit skin color.—Considered very dark blue and similar to            the coloration as seen on the fruit of the ‘Sharpeblue’            blueberry plant when grown under similar conditions.        -   Fruit firmness.—Generally — The present variety produces            very firm fruit in contrast to the medium firmness fruit as            produced by the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant when grown            under similar conditions.        -   Fruit sweetness.—Generally — The present variety produces            fruit having a high degree of sweetness in contrast to the            average sweetness as expressed by the fruit produced by the            Sharpeblue Blueberry Plant when grown under similar            conditions.        -   Fruit acidity.—Generally — Considered low for the species.            The low acidity, as expressed by the fruit grown by the            present variety, is in contrast to the somewhat average or            medium acidity as expressed by the fruit of the ‘Sharpeblue’            blueberry plant when grown under similar conditions.        -   Plant.—Fruiting Type — Fruit appears on one year old and            current season shoots. This is similar to the growth habit            as expressed by the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant when grown            under similar conditions.        -   Date of ripening of fruit on current year's            shoots.—Considered early for the species and earlier in time            relative to the same growth habit as expressed by the            ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant when grown under similar            conditions. The beginning of fruit ripening on one year old            shoots is considered early for the species and in contrast            to the later date as expressed by the growth habit of the            ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant.        -   Resistance to insects and disease.—No particular            susceptibilities were noted. The present variety has not            been tested to expose or detect any susceptibilities or            resistances to any known plant and/or fruit diseases.            Although the new variety of blueberry plant possesses the            described characteristics when grown under the ecological            conditions prevailing near Yanchep Springs, Western            Australia, it should be understood that the variations of            the usual magnitude and characteristics incident to changes            in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pest control,            frost, climatic variables and horticultural management are            to be expected.

Having thus described and illustrated my new variety of blueberry plant,what I claim is new and desire to secure by Plant Letters Patent is: 1.A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, substantially asillustrated and described and which is characterized principally as tonovelty by producing extra large size fruit, which has a small, drypicking scar and very good fruit flavor, and an earlier flowering andfruit production dates when grown under the ecological conditionsprevailing in and near Yanchep Springs, Western Australia.